Personally I think the Phantasy Star games are something you had to be there for. I didn't play them when they first came out, and going back to them on the virtual console was painful. I could see why they would be good when they were released, but it hasn't held up.

Specifically, I played (or tried to play) Phantasy Star II, and couldn't get past the boring dungeons and terrible monster design.

Actually, I remember people complaining about the monster design back when the games first came out, too.

In any case, I'm not arguing that they're not classic or influential. But they haven't aged well. Except PSO, that's still good.

Note to gamers: when someone shoots you in the face, they aren't "gay." They are "psychopathic."

Specifically, I played (or tried to play) Phantasy Star II, and couldn't get past the boring dungeons and terrible monster design.

The monsters get much more unique as the game continues. My favourtie is RABGUT. He's a huge rabbit with a massive gash across his belly. Sometimes, he'll skip turns to shove his guts back in through the hole.

I don't really get the "terrible monster design" complaint. I actually kinda like the battling aesthetics in PS2. Animated enemies on a grid-like surface where things look really cool for an early 16-bit game --- kinda an actual futuristic vibe which is obviously quite fitting with this game. And while I haven't progressed beyond the early game bugs and shit......that's no different from most retro RPG stuff.

What I remember most about the monsters is being surprised by a trio of Blasters, with heavy party hitting attacks, who are at that point quite capable of a total party kill before you can act. I'd call this old school punishing difficulty, but the same thing has happened to me as recently as the Thunder Plains in FFX. And at least in Phantasy Star 2, there are no 20 minute cutscenes it can happen right after.